Selective redistribution and replenishment of utility scale battery electric storage systems

ABSTRACT

One example includes a battery power system that includes a plurality of battery containers. Each of the battery containers can include a plurality of battery modules that provide output power to a point-of-interconnect associated with a power grid. Each of a portion of the plurality of battery containers includes a plurality of original battery modules and at least one of a plurality of redistributed battery modules from a redistributed battery container. The redistributed battery container includes battery modules of a substantially similar state-of-health to the plurality of original battery modules of each of the portion of the plurality of battery containers. The redistributed battery container includes a plurality of newer battery modules with a substantially similar state-of-health that is greater than the state-of-health of the plurality of original battery modules and which were subsequently installed after redistribution of the plurality of redistributed battery modules.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. Non-provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 15/695739, filed 5 Sep. 2017, which claims thebenefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/385425, filed 9 Sep. 2016, each of which applications is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to a power maintenance system, andmore specifically to selective redistribution and replenishment ofutility scale battery electric storage systems.

BACKGROUND

Battery storage technology is becoming integrated into a power grid in apublic utility or industrial power environment. A battery site mayinclude a multiplicity of battery containers for storing and supplyingelectricity from and to the respective power grid. The power storagecapacity of the batteries in a battery container degrade as the batterypower system is used, and the capacity of the batteries can degrade tosuch a point that the battery container can no longer provide the sameamount of energy as initially provided at installation. Degradedbatteries can be disposed of, such as to replace the batteries with newbatteries, but such disposing of degraded capacity batteries may bewasteful because the batteries may still have some useful batterycapacity. Additionally, new batteries may have a lower impedance thanthe existing batteries in the battery power system, and thus may providea disproportionate amount of power relative to the existing batteries ofthe battery container.

SUMMARY

One example includes a battery power system that includes a plurality ofbattery containers. Each of the battery containers can include aplurality of battery modules that provide output power to apoint-of-interconnect associated with a power grid. Each of a portion ofthe plurality of battery containers includes a plurality of originalbattery modules and at least one of a plurality of redistributed batterymodules from a redistributed battery container. The redistributedbattery container includes battery modules of a substantially similarstate-of-health to the plurality of original battery modules of each ofthe portion of the plurality of battery containers. The redistributedbattery container includes a plurality of newer battery modules with asubstantially similar state-of-health that is greater than thestate-of-health of the plurality of original battery modules and whichwere subsequently installed after redistribution of the plurality ofredistributed battery modules.

Another example includes a method for maintaining a battery powersystem. The method includes monitoring an energy capacity associatedwith each of a plurality of battery containers. Each of the plurality ofbattery containers includes a plurality of battery modules configured toprovide an output power to a point-of-interconnect associated with apower grid. The energy capacity can be monitored based on an impedanceassociated with a respective plurality of battery modules. The methodalso includes comparing the energy capacity associated with each of theplurality of battery containers to a predetermined energy capacitythreshold to monitor a battery degradation of each of the plurality ofbattery containers. The method also includes selecting a maintenancesolution comprising at least one option from a list comprising areplacement solution and a redistribution solution in response todetermining that the energy capacity is less than the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold. The method further includes providingsolution instructions for implementing the selected maintenancesolution.

Another example includes a method for maintaining a battery power systemcomprising a plurality of battery containers. Each of the batterycontainers includes a plurality of battery modules of a substantiallysimilar state-of-health that provide an output power to apoint-of-interconnect associated with a power grid. The method includesredistributing the plurality of battery modules associated with a givenone of a plurality of battery containers to a respective remainingplurality of battery containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a battery power system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example diagram of a set of battery containers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first example of battery power maintenance.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second example of battery power maintenance.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third example of battery power maintenance.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for maintaining a battery power system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates generally to power maintenance system, and morespecifically to selective redistribution and replenishment of utilityscale battery electric storage systems. A battery power system includesa plurality of battery containers, with each of the battery containersincluding a plurality of battery modules. Each of the battery modulescan provide an output power to a point-of-interconnect (POI) associatedwith a power grid. The battery power system also includes a degradationmonitoring system that is configured to monitor a state-of-health (e.g.,an energy capacity) associated with the respective plurality of batterymodules. As an example, the energy capacity can be directly proportionalto a measure of impedance of the battery modules, and thus the totaldegradation of the battery modules in the respective battery container.For example, each of the battery modules can include one or morebatteries that are arranged to provide an aggregate power to the POIassociated with the power grid.

The battery power system also includes a degradation controller that isconfigured to monitor the battery degradation associated with each ofthe battery containers. As an example, the degradation controller canmonitor the energy capacity associated with the each of the batterymodules associated with the respective battery containers to determinethe battery degradation of each of the battery containers. In responseto the measured battery degradation, such as in response to determiningan energy capacity being less than a predetermined energy capacitythreshold, the degradation controller can determine a maintenancesolution for installation of new battery modules.

As a first example, the maintenance solution can be a replacementsolution that includes replacing all of the battery modules in a givenone of the battery containers and disposing of the previous batterymodules of the given one of the battery containers. As a second example,the maintenance solution can be a replenishment solution that includesadding a battery module to one or more of the battery containers toincrease the energy capacity of the respective battery container(s). Asa third example, the maintenance solution can be a redistributionsolution that includes redistributing the battery modules of a given oneof the battery containers to be added to one or more of the remainingbattery containers, and replacing the battery modules in the given oneof the battery containers. As a result, the degradation controller caneffectively maintain the power requirements of the battery power systemin a manner that minimizes waste and is most efficient based on themonitored energy capacity.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a battery power system 10. The batterypower system 10 can be implemented in any of a variety of powerapplications, such as to provide power to a public power grid,industrial power grid, or other type of power system via apoint-of-interconnect (POI) 12.

The battery system 10 includes a plurality of battery containers 14.Each of the battery containers 14 can be configured to provide arespective contribution of power to the POI 12 via a respective inverter16. Each of the inverters 16 is configured to convert the DC power ofthe respective battery container 14 to AC power at the POI 12 for powerconsumption, and is configured to convert the AC power at the POI 12 toDC power of the respective battery container 14 for power storage. Inthe example of FIG. 1, the battery containers 14 each include aplurality of battery modules 18, wherein each of the battery modules 18is configured as including one or more batteries (e.g., coupled inseries). As an example, the battery modules 18 can each be configured asany of a variety of arrangements of batteries, such as battery racksthat are secured to battery containers 14. Therefore, the batterymodules 18 of each of the battery containers 14 can be arranged (e.g.,in parallel) to provide an aggregate output power to POI 12 via therespective inverters 16. As an example, each of the battery containers14 can correspond to a cabinet or other structure configured to at leastpartially enclose the respective battery modules 18, such as tofacilitate relative ease in installation and removal of the respectivebattery modules 18 for purposes of implementing a maintenance solution,as described in greater detail herein.

Additionally, in the example of FIG. 1, the battery power system 10includes a degradation controller 22 that is configured to monitor astate-of-health or energy capacity of the respective battery modules 18,and thus the battery container 14. The state-of-health or energycapacity can be directly proportional to a measure of total degradationof the battery modules 18 in each of the respective battery containers14. Therefore, based on the measurement of the energy capacity of eachof the battery containers 14, the degradation controller 22 caneffectively determine a degradation of the battery modules 18. As anexample, the degradation of a given battery container 14, and thus theaggregate degradation of the battery modules 18 therein, can bedetermined as a present condition, over time, and relative to apredetermined initial energy capacity or baseline, and/or can bedetermined in a predictive manner to determine an approximatedegradation at a future time. As an example, the monitoring of theenergy capacity of the respective battery containers 14 can beimplemented as described in co-pending Application entitled “Step TimeBattery Degradation Determination”, assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/095,693, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

In addition, the degradation controller 22 can be configured to comparethe respective indication of energy capacity of each of the batterycontainers 14, such as based on impedance, to determine the relativedegradation of the battery module(s) 18 in each of the respectivebattery containers 14. Thus, in response to the comparative energycapacity of the battery module(s) 18 in the battery containers 14, thedegradation controller 22 can be configured to determine a maintenancesolution for one or more of the battery containers 18 in response to themonitored energy capacity of the respective battery containers 14indicating sufficient degradation of the battery module(s) 18 to warrantmaintenance. While the degradation controller 22 is demonstrated in theexample of FIG. 1 as a single unit that provides degradation monitoringof each of the battery containers 14, it is to be understood that,alternatively, the battery containers 14 can each include a respectiveenergy capacity monitor that communicates an indication of degradationof the respective battery modules 18 with the degradation controller 22,such that the degradation controller 22 can compare the energy capacityof each of the battery modules based on the indication of degradationprovided by the respective energy capacity monitor(s).

For example, the degradation controller 22 can compare the energycapacity of each of the battery containers 14 with a predeterminedenergy capacity threshold. As an example, the predetermined energycapacity threshold can be indicative of an acceptable energy capacityassociated with a given one of the battery containers 14 in providingsufficient output power to the power grid via the respective inverter 16and the POI 12. As another example, the predetermined energy capacitythreshold can vary between the battery containers 14, and can beprogrammable to meet the specific power requirements of the power grid.As yet another example, the predetermined energy capacity threshold canbe associated with a predictive degradation of the battery containers14, such that the predetermined energy capacity threshold can beindicative of a future shortfall in energy capacity of the respectivebattery unit(s) 14. As a result, the maintenance solution can beprovided as a preventative maintenance solution to accommodate such afuture shortfall in energy capacity of the respective battery unit(s)14. Furthermore, the predetermined energy capacity threshold is notlimited to a single threshold, but can include multiple thresholds thatcan be indicative of various states of degradation of the batterymodules 18 of the respective battery container 14. In response to themonitored energy capacity of a given one or more of the batterycontainers 14 being less than the predetermined energy capacitythreshold, the degradation controller 22 can determine the appropriatemaintenance solution for installation of new battery modules 18 in oneor more of the battery containers 14.

As a first example, the maintenance solution can be a replacementsolution. For example, the replacement solution can be determined to bethe appropriate maintenance solution by the degradation controller 22 inresponse to a determination that the energy capacity associated with agiven one of the battery containers 14 is below the predetermined energycapacity threshold and that the energy capacity associated with theremaining battery containers 14 is above the predetermined energycapacity threshold of the respective remaining battery containers 14. Asa result, the degradation controller 22 can generate solutioninstructions 24 that are stored in a memory 26, or can access thepredefined solution instructions 24 from the memory 26, in response tothe determination of the replacement solution. In the example of thereplacement solution, the solution instructions 24 can provideinstructions for replacing all of the battery modules 18 in the givenone of the battery containers 14, and disposing of the previous (e.g.,degraded) battery modules 18 of the given one of the battery containers14. As an example, the replacement solution can be determined inresponse to determining that the energy capacity is significantly lessthan the predetermined energy capacity threshold, and is thus indicativeof a degree of degradation of the battery modules 18 that warrantsdisposal of the previous battery modules 18, as opposed tore-implementing the degraded battery modules 18 as described in greaterdetail herein.

As a second example, the maintenance solution can be a replenishmentsolution. For example, the replenishment solution can be determined tobe the appropriate maintenance solution by the degradation controller 22in response to a determination that the energy capacity associated withat least one of the battery containers 14 is below the respectivepredetermined energy capacity threshold of each of the at least onebattery containers 14. As a result, the degradation controller 22 canthe generate solution instructions 24 that are stored in the memory 26,or can access the predefined solution instructions 24 from the memory26, in response to the determination of the replenishment solution. Inthe example of the replenishment solution, the solution instructions 24can provide instructions for adding a new battery module 18 to each ofone or more of the battery containers 14 (e.g., the battery containers14 having the energy capacity less than the predetermined energycapacity threshold) to increase the energy capacity of the respectivebattery container(s) 14. Therefore, the replenishment solution canmaintain operation of degraded battery modules 18 that may still haveusable power-providing capability, and can thus be more efficient thandisposing of degraded battery modules 18.

As a third example, the maintenance solution can be a redistributionsolution. For example, the redistribution solution can be determined tobe the appropriate maintenance solution by the degradation controller 22in response to a determination that the energy capacity associated witha given one of the battery containers 14 is above the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold and the energy capacity associated with one ormore of the remaining battery containers 14 is below the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold. As a result, the degradation controller 22can the generate solution instructions 24 that are stored in the memory26, or can access the predefined solution instructions 24 from thememory 26, in response to the determination of the redistributionsolution.

In the example of the redistribution solution, the solution instructions24 can provide instructions for redistributing each of one or more ofthe battery modules 18 associated with the given one of the batterycontainers 14 that is greater than the predetermined energy capacitythreshold to the remaining one or more of the battery containers 14 thatis less than the predetermined energy capacity threshold. The solutioninstructions 24 for the redistribution solution can also include addingthe new battery modules 18 to the given one of the battery containers14, and thus replacing the redistributed battery modules 18. Therefore,the redistribution solution can likewise maintain operation of degradedbattery modules 18 that may still have usable power-providingcapability, and can thus be more efficient than disposing of degradedbattery modules 18. As an example, the redistribution solution 24 canindicate to which of the battery containers 14 the battery modules 18are to be redistributed, which can be less than all of the batterymodules 18 of the given one of the battery containers 14, and thus lessthan all of the remaining battery modules 14.

For example, the battery modules 18 of the given one of the batterycontainers 14 can have degraded at approximately the same rate as thebattery modules 18 of the remaining one or more of the batterycontainers 14, and can thus have an impedance that is approximatelyequal to the impedance of each of the battery modules 18 in theremaining one or more of the battery containers 14. As a result, inresponse to implementing the redistribution solution, the redistributedbattery modules 18 can have an impedance that is approximately equal tothe impedance of the battery modules 18 in the remaining batterycontainer(s) 14. Therefore, the newly distributed battery module 18 canprovide additional energy capacity of the respective battery container14 without providing a significant impedance mismatch with respect tothe battery modules 18 therein. Accordingly, the lack of an impedancemismatch that results from the redistribution solution can provide for amore uniform degradation of the battery modules 18, and can mitigateovercurrent conditions with respect to the battery modules 18 andrespective wiring.

As another example, the solution instructions 24 can include acombination of the previously defined replacement, replenishment, andredistribution solutions. For example, the solution instructions 24 caninclude a solution that is a combination of the replenishment andredistribution solutions, such as based on the remaining degradedbattery containers 14 numbering greater in quantity than the batterymodules 18 in the given one of the battery containers 14 havingsufficient energy capacity. As a result, the solution instructions 24can include redistributing all of the battery modules 18 of the givenone of the battery containers 14 to a set of the remaining batterycontainers 14, and can replenish each of the rest of the remainingbattery containers 14 with a new battery module 18, as well as replacingthe redistributed battery modules 18 of the given one of the batterycontainers 14 with new battery modules 18. Accordingly, the solutioninstructions 24 can be provided in a number of ways to allowimplementation of the maintenance solution (e.g., by qualifiedtechnicians and/or machinery).

In addition, the solution instructions 24 can be provided along with analarm, such as an audial or visual alarm to indicate that a maintenancesolution is required and/or to indicate that the solution instructions24 are available for providing maintenance to the battery power system10. Furthermore, the solution instructions 24 can also account forspatial considerations in the addition of new or redistributed batterymodules 18, such as based on limited space that may be associated with agiven battery container 14. For example, the battery power system 10 canbe initially constructed such that each of the battery containers 14includes sufficient space for the inclusion of additional batterymodules 18 (e.g., to accommodate the replenishment and/or redistributionsolutions). However, in response to an indication that the energycapacity of a given one of the battery containers 14 is degraded, and inresponse to degradation controller 22 determining that the given one ofthe battery containers 14 does not include any additional space toaccommodate another battery module 14, the degradation controller 22 canselect the replacement solution instead of the replenishment and/orredistribution solutions. Thus, the degradation controller 22 can selecta given maintenance solution based on such spatial considerations inaddition to the monitored energy capacity.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example diagram 50 of a set of battery containers52. The battery containers 52 are demonstrated as five separate batterycontainers 52 that can each correspond to a respective one of thebattery containers 14 in the example of FIG. 1. Therefore, the batterycontainers 52 each provide output power to the POI 12 via a respectiveinverter 16, as described previously. The battery containers 52 are eachdemonstrated as including four battery modules 54 that can likewisecorrespond to the battery modules 18 in the example of FIG. 1. Thebattery modules 54 are each labeled in an “X_Y” nomenclature, in which“X” corresponds to the number of the battery container 52 (e.g.,“BATTERY CONTAINER X”), and in which “Y” corresponds to the number ofthe battery module 54 in the respective battery container 52. While theexample of FIG. 2, and the following description of the examples ofFIGS. 3-5, demonstrate five battery containers 52 with four (e.g.,initial) battery modules 54 each, it is to be understood that thebattery power system 10 can include any number of battery containers 52and battery modules 54, and is not limited to the configurationdemonstrated in the examples of FIGS. 2-5. The following description ofthe maintenance solutions in the examples of FIGS. 3-5 includes likereference numbers of the battery containers 52, the battery modules 54,and the labels of the battery modules 54 (such that redistributedbattery modules 54 maintain the same respective label). Thus, referenceis to be made to the example of FIG. 1 in the following description ofthe examples of FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first example diagram 100 of battery powermaintenance. The diagram 100 can correspond to the replacement solution,as described previously in the example of FIG. 1. For example, thereplacement solution can be determined to be the appropriate maintenancesolution by the degradation controller 22 in response to a determinationthat the energy capacity associated with a given one of the batterycontainers 52 is below the predetermined energy capacity threshold andthat the energy capacity associated with the remaining batterycontainers 52 is above the predetermined energy capacity threshold ofthe respective remaining battery containers 52. In the example of FIG.3, the degradation controller 22 can have determined that the energycapacity of the fifth battery container 52 (e.g., “BATTERY CONTAINER 5”)is less than the predetermined energy capacity threshold (e.g., muchless than the predetermined energy capacity threshold). As a result, thedegradation controller 22 can generate the solution instructions 24 thatare stored in the memory 26, or can access the predefined solutioninstructions 24 from the memory 26, in response to the determination ofthe replacement solution.

In the example of the diagram 100, the solution instructions 24 canprovide instructions for replacing all of the battery modules 54 inBATTERY CONTAINER 5, and disposing of the previous (e.g., degraded)battery modules 54 of the given one of the battery containers 52. In theexample of FIG. 3, the battery modules 54 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”, “5_3”,and “5_4” are disposed of, and are replaced by new battery modules 54labeled “6_1”, “6_2”, “6_3”, and “6_4”. In the example of FIG. 3, thenew battery modules 54 are labeled “6_Y”, despite being included in thefifth battery container 52, to differentiate the new battery modules 54from the previous degraded battery modules 54 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”,“5_3”, and “5_4” that are now disposed of Therefore, the new batterymodules 54 labeled “6_1”, “6_2”, “6_3”, and “6_4” provide sufficientpower to return BATTERY CONTAINER 5 to greater than the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second example diagram 150 of battery powermaintenance. The diagram 150 can correspond to the replenishmentsolution, as described previously in the example of FIG. 1. For example,the replenishment solution can be determined to be the appropriatemaintenance solution by the degradation controller 22 in response to adetermination that the energy capacity associated with at least one ofthe battery containers 52 is below the respective predetermined energycapacity threshold of each of the at least one battery containers 52. Inthe example of FIG. 4, the degradation controller 22 can have determinedthat all of the battery containers 52 have an energy capacity that isless than the predetermined energy capacity threshold. As a result, thedegradation controller 22 can the generate solution instructions 24 thatare stored in the memory 26, or can access the predefined solutioninstructions 24 from the memory 26, in response to the determination ofthe replenishment solution.

In the example of the diagram 150, the solution instructions 24 canprovide instructions for adding a new battery module 54 to each of thebattery containers 52 to increase the energy capacity of the respectivebattery container(s) 14. Thus, in the example of FIG. 4, a new batterymodule 54 labeled “1_5” is added to the other battery modules 54 inBATTERY CONTAINER 1. Similarly, a new battery module 54 labeled “2_5” isadded to the other battery modules 54 in BATTERY CONTAINER 2, a newbattery module 54 labeled “3_5” is added to the other battery modules 54in BATTERY CONTAINER 3, a new battery module 54 labeled “4_5” is addedto the other battery modules 54 in BATTERY CONTAINER 4, and a newbattery module 54 labeled “5_5” is added to the other battery modules 54in BATTERY CONTAINER 5. It is to be understood that the connection ofthe new battery modules 54 to the existing battery modules 54 of each ofthe battery containers 52 need not be at the end of the connectedbattery modules 54, but could instead be anywhere in the respectiveconnections. As a result, the replenishment solution can maintainoperation of degraded battery modules 54 in each of the first, second,third, and fourth battery containers 52 that may still have usablepower-providing capability to maintain a more efficient solution thandisposing of battery modules 54 that may still have usefulpower-providing capability. While the example of FIG. 4 demonstratesthat all of the battery containers 52 receive a new battery module 54,it is to be understood that the replenishment maintenance solution canprovide for replenishment of less than all of the battery containers 52with a respective new battery module 54.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third example 200 of battery power maintenance. Thediagram 200 can correspond to the redistribution solution, as describedpreviously in the example of FIG. 1. For example, the redistributionsolution can be determined to be the appropriate maintenance solution bythe degradation controller 22 in response to a determination that theenergy capacity associated with a given one of the battery containers 52is above the predetermined energy capacity threshold and the energycapacity associated with one or more of the remaining battery containers52 is below the predetermined energy capacity threshold. In the exampleof FIG. 5, the degradation controller 22 can have determined that theenergy capacity of the fifth battery container 52 (e.g., BATTERYCONTAINER 5) is above the predetermined energy capacity threshold, andthat the remaining battery containers 52 (BATTERY CONTAINER 1, BATTERYCONTAINER 2, BATTERY CONTAINER 3, and BATTERY CONTAINER 4) have anenergy capacity that is less than the predetermined energy capacitythreshold. As a result, the degradation controller 22 can the generatesolution instructions 24 that are stored in the memory 26, or can accessthe predefined solution instructions 24 from the memory 26, in responseto the determination of the redistribution solution.

In the example of the diagram 200, the solution instructions 24 canprovide instructions for redistributing each of the battery modules 54of BATTERY CONTAINER 5 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”, “5_3”, and “5_4” to each ofthe respective other battery containers 52. In the example of FIG. 5,the battery module 54 labeled “5_1” is added to the other batterymodules 54 in BATTERY CONTAINER 1, the battery module 54 labeled “5_2”is added to the other battery modules 54 in BATTERY CONTAINER 2, thebattery module 54 labeled “5_3” is added to the other battery modules 54in BATTERY CONTAINER 3, and the battery module 54 labeled “5_4” is addedto the other battery modules 54 in BATTERY CONTAINER 4. In addition, thesolution instructions 24 for the redistribution solution can alsoinclude adding new battery modules 54 to the given one of the batterycontainers 52, and thus replacing the redistributed battery modules 54.In the example of FIG. 5, new battery modules 54 labeled “6_1”, “6_2”,“6_3”, and “6_4” are added to BATTERY CONTAINER 5 to replace theredistributed battery modules 54 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”, “5_3”, and “5_4”.Similar to as described previously, the new battery modules 54 arelabeled “6_Y”, despite being included in the fifth battery container 52,to differentiate the new battery modules 54 from the redistributedbattery modules 54 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”, “5_3”, and “5_4”. Therefore,the redistributed battery modules 54 labeled “5_1”, “5_2”, “5_3”, and“5_4” that may still have usable power output are added to therespective other battery containers 52, and the new battery modules 54labeled “6_1”, “6_2”, “6_3”, and “6_4” provide sufficient power toreturn BATTERY CONTAINER 5 to greater than the predetermined energycapacity threshold. Also, the state-of-health or energy capacity of allfive BATTERY CONTAINERS of FIG. 5 may be substantially equal uponredistribution and replenishment, wherein the total energy capacity ofthe four new modules units in BATTERY CONTAINER 5 may be substantiallyequal to the total energy capacity of the five battery modules ofsimilar states-of-health of any of BATTERY CONTAINERS 1-4.

Accordingly, the examples of FIGS. 2-5 demonstrate the separaterespective maintenance solutions that can be implemented by thedegradation controller 22 in response to the monitored energy capacityof the battery containers 52. Therefore, based on the determination ofdegradation of the battery modules 54 in the battery containers 52 basedon the monitored battery energy capacity, the degradation controller 22can determine a maintenance solution that can implement batteries ofdiminished, but not necessarily unusable, energy capacity. Accordingly,the maintenance solution can be more efficient than existing maintenancesolutions that solely implement disposing of degraded battery modules.

In view of the foregoing structural and functional features describedabove, methods in accordance with various aspects of the presentdisclosure will be better appreciated with reference to FIG. 6. While,for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the method of FIG. 6 is shownand described as executing serially, it is to be understood andappreciated that the present disclosure is not limited by theillustrated orders, as some aspects could, in accordance with thepresent disclosure, occur in different orders and/or concurrently withother aspects from that shown and described herein. Moreover, not allillustrated features may be required to implement method in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method 250 for maintaining a battery power system(e.g., the battery power system 10). At 252, an energy capacityassociated with each of a plurality of battery containers (e.g., thebattery containers 14) is monitored. Each of the plurality of batterycontainers includes a plurality of battery modules (e.g., the batterymodules 18) configured to provide an output power to apoint-of-interconnect (e.g., the POI 12) associated with a power grid.The energy capacity can be monitored based on any of a variety ofdifferent ways to measure degradation, such as based on measuring animpedance associated with a respective plurality of battery modules. At254, the energy capacity associated with each of a plurality of batterycontainers is compared to a predetermined energy capacity threshold tomonitor a battery degradation of each of the plurality of batterycontainers. At 256, a maintenance solution comprising at least oneoption is selected from a list comprising a replacement solution (e.g.,the diagram 100), a replenishment solution (e.g., the diagram 150), anda redistribution solution (e.g., the diagram 200) in response todetermining that the energy capacity is less than the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold. At 258, solution instructions (e.g., thesolution instructions 24) for implementing the selected maintenancesolution are provided.

What have been described above are examples of the disclosure. It is, ofcourse, not possible to describe every conceivable combination ofcomponents or method for purposes of describing the disclosure, but oneof ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many furthercombinations and permutations of the disclosure are possible.Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations,modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of thisapplication, including the appended claims. Additionally, where thedisclosure or claims recite “a,” “an,” “a first,” or “another” element,or the equivalent thereof, it should be interpreted to include one ormore than one such element, neither requiring nor excluding two or moresuch elements. As used herein, the term “includes” means includes butnot limited to, and the term “including” means including but not limitedto. The term “based on” means based at least in part on.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for maintaining a battery power system,the method comprising: monitoring an energy capacity associated witheach of a plurality of battery containers, each of the plurality ofbattery containers comprising a plurality of battery modules thatprovide an output power to a point-of-interconnect associated with apower grid; comparing the energy capacity associated with each of theplurality of battery containers to a predetermined energy capacitythreshold to monitor a battery degradation of each of the plurality ofbattery containers; selecting a maintenance solution from a listcomprising a plurality of different maintenance solutions based on thecomparison; and providing solution instructions for implementing theselected maintenance solution.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinselecting the maintenance solution comprises identifying one of areplacement solution or a redistribution solution from the listcomprising the plurality of different maintenance solutions in responseto determining that the energy capacity is less than the predeterminedenergy capacity threshold.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein providingthe solution instructions comprises selecting the solution instructionsfor a replacement solution from the list of the plurality of differentmaintenance solutions, the replacement solution comprising replacing theplurality of battery modules of a given one of the plurality of batterycontainers based on the monitored battery degradation.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein selecting the maintenance solution from the list of theplurality of different maintenance solutions comprises selecting areplacement solution in response to at least one of a determination thatthe energy capacity associated with a given one of the plurality ofbattery containers is below the predetermined energy capacity thresholdand a lack of spatial capacity in the given one of the plurality ofbattery containers to accommodate an additional battery module.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing the solution instructions comprisesselecting the solution instructions for a replenishment solution fromthe list of the plurality of different maintenance solutions, thereplenishment solution comprising replenishing at least one of theplurality of battery containers with at least one new battery modulebased on the monitored battery degradation.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein selecting the maintenance solution comprises selecting areplenishment solution from the list of the plurality of differentmaintenance solutions, the replenishment solution being selected inresponse to determining that the energy capacity associated with atleast one of the plurality of battery containers is below thepredetermined energy capacity threshold.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein providing the solution instructions comprises providing thesolution instructions for a redistribution solution from the list of theplurality of different maintenance solutions, the redistributionsolution comprising: redistributing at least one of the plurality ofbattery modules associated with a given one of the plurality of batterycontainers to a respective remaining at least one of the plurality ofbattery containers; and adding at least one new battery module to thegiven one of the plurality of battery containers based on the monitoredbattery degradation.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting themaintenance solution comprises selecting a redistribution solution fromthe list of the plurality of different maintenance solutions in responseto determining that a redistributed at least one of the plurality ofbattery modules has an impedance that is approximately equal to animpedance associated with each of plurality of battery modules of arespective remaining at least one of the plurality of batterycontainers.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of the pluralityof different maintenance solutions comprises a redistribution solutionassociated with redistributing battery modules, a replacement solutionassociated with replacing battery modules and a replenishment solutionassociated with replenishing battery modules.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the selecting the maintenance solution comprises selecting theredistribution solution in response to determining that at least onebattery container of the plurality of battery containers does not have aspatial capacity to accommodate an additional battery module.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein selecting the maintenance solution comprisesselecting a given maintenance solution from the list comprising theplurality of different maintenance solutions for a first subset of theplurality of battery containers and a different maintenance solutionfrom the list comprising the plurality of different maintenancesolutions for a second subset of the plurality of battery containersbased on the comparison.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectedmaintenance solution from the plurality of different maintenancesolutions comprises: a redistribution solution comprising redistributingat least one of a plurality of redistributed battery modules from aredistributed battery container corresponding to at least one batterycontainer of the plurality of battery containers and installing at leastone newer battery module in the redistributed battery container; areplacement solution comprising replacing at least one of the pluralityof battery modules of the at least one battery container with the atleast one newer battery module; and a replenishment solution comprisingreplenishing the at least one battery container with the at least onenewer battery module.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding an alarm in response to the energy capacity of at least onebattery container of the plurality of battery containers decreasing lessthan the predetermined energy capacity threshold, the solutioninstructions for implementing the selected maintenance solution beingprovided substantially concurrently with the alarm.
 14. A method formaintaining a battery power system comprising a plurality of batterycontainers each comprising a plurality of battery modules of asubstantially similar state-of-health that provide an output power to apoint-of-interconnect associated with a power grid, the methodcomprising redistributing the plurality of battery modules associatedwith a given one of the plurality of battery containers to respectiveremaining battery containers of the plurality of battery containers. 15.The method of claim 14, wherein after redistribution, each of a portionof the plurality of battery containers comprises a plurality of originalbattery modules and one of the plurality of battery modules associatedwith the given one of the plurality of battery containers, such that thegiven one of the plurality of battery containers comprises batterymodules of a substantially similar state-of-health to the plurality oforiginal battery modules of each of the portion of the plurality ofbattery containers.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprisingadding at least one new battery module to the given one of the pluralityof battery containers in response to redistributing the plurality ofbattery modules associated with a given one of the plurality of batterycontainers to the respective remaining battery containers of theplurality of battery containers, wherein an energy capacity of the givenone of the plurality of battery containers having the at least one newbattery module is substantially equal to an energy capacity of therespective remaining plurality of battery containers comprising theredistributed plurality of battery modules.
 17. A method for maintaininga battery power system comprising a plurality of battery containers eachcomprising a plurality of battery modules that provide an output powerto a point-of-interconnect associated with a power grid, the methodcomprising redistributing the plurality of battery modules associatedwith a given one of the plurality of battery containers to respectiveremaining battery containers of the plurality of battery containers,wherein after redistribution, each of a portion of the plurality ofbattery containers comprises a plurality of original battery modules andone of the plurality of battery modules associated with the given one ofthe plurality of battery containers.
 18. The method of claim 17, whereineach of the plurality of battery modules have a substantially similarstate-of-health.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising addingat least one new battery module to the given one of the plurality ofbattery containers in response to redistributing the plurality ofbattery modules associated with the given one of the plurality ofbattery containers to the respective remaining battery containers of theplurality of battery containers.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein anenergy capacity of the given one of the plurality of battery containerscomprising the at least one new battery module is substantially equal toan energy capacity of the respective remaining plurality of batterycontainers comprising the redistributed plurality of battery modules.